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Arsenal struggling with life after Vieira

Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0

By Russell Kempson

August 15 2005, 1:00am, The Times

IN EVERY LEAGUE MATCH THAT Arsenal play this season, they will be judged not so much on the nature of their performance but on how it compares with Chelsea. Every game will be dissected shot by shot and tackle by tackle until a verdict is reached on which team are in the ruder health. Manchester United, the other main challengers for Chelsea’s Premiership crown, will be similarly scrutinised.

On the evidence yesterday, albeit in their first fixture of the season and first in the post-Patrick Vieira era, Arsenal will have to play better if they are to regain the title that they won in 2003-04. But for two goals in the closing nine minutes, against a Newcastle United team that had been reduced to ten…